Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which run MIUI or HyperOS shells, have enormous processing power that is often underutilized in everyday life. One of the most underappreciated features is the ability to run two apps simultaneously, which allows for significant personal efficiency and user-friendliness. Gadget owners often do not even suspect that they can watch YouTube videos and chat in the instant messenger at the same time or copy text from a document to a browser.
Splitting your display into two independent windows is not just a visual effect, it's a full-fledged multitasking tool built deep into the system. By activating this mode, you turn your phone into a little tablet or even a laptop where the processes are done in parallel. In this article, we'll go into all the ways you can activate this feature, customize the interface, and the possible nuances of working with windows on different versions of the firmware.
Before you start setting up, it’s worth noting that the layout of menu items may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware. However, the basic principles remain unchanged for the entire line of devices, whether it’s the flagship Xiaomi 14 or the budget Redmi Note. Let’s look at how the system manages active windows.
What is a split screen mode and why is it needed?
Split Screen mode, often called Split Screen, allows the contents of two running applications to be displayed simultaneously, sharing the useful area of the display with a horizontal or vertical boundary. This is especially true for devices with large diagonals, where empty space at the edges when using one application is simply wasted.
One of the great benefits of this kind of workspace is that you can copy data between applications, you can open a gallery in one window, pick a photo, copy it, and immediately paste it into a Telegram or WhatsApp dialog that's open in the next window, so you don't have to save the image to the clipboard and look for the recipient app in the list of recent programs.
⚠️ Note: Not all applications support split-screen operation. Some applications, especially banking or horizontally oriented games, may force full-screen deployment or close when you try to activate this mode.
It’s also often confused with Floating Windows, but it’s different technologies: If a split screen splits space in half (or in a different proportion), floating windows allow miniature interfaces to run on top of other applications, creating an even more flexible, but also more chaotic control system.
- 📱 The ability to watch videos and write at the same time.
- 📝 Easy copying of text and media files between applications.
- 📊 Comparison of characteristics of goods in different browser tabs.
- ⏱️ Saving time to switch the context of tasks.
Activate through the menu of recent apps
The most common and intuitive way to run two apps side by side is to use the recent task menu, which works on most Xiaomi devices with navigation buttons or gestures, although the visual display of items can vary.
Then you go to the menu of running applications. Depending on the navigation settings, this is done by swiping up late (if gestures are enabled) or pressing a square button (if you use the classic three buttons). In the list that opens, find the card of the desired application. At the top of the card (or on the right of it, depending on the version of MIUI), you will see an icon that resembles two rectangles or a tripole.
Clicking on this icon will open the contextual window management menu, select Split screen (or two-rectangle icon) and change the screen instantly: the selected application will occupy the top half of the display, and the menu of recent apps will appear at the bottom to select the second program. Select the second application from the list, and it will occupy the remaining space.
☑️ Pre-launch checks
It's important to understand that both applications are still active in this mode, which means that video in one window won't stop if you start typing in the other, but it's worth considering resource consumption: running two heavy applications at the same time can drain the battery faster and raise the temperature of the case.
Use of sidebar and fast commands
For those who use split-screen mode all the time, MIUI offers a more advanced tool, the Sidebar, which can be swiped from the edge of the screen in any application, allowing you to quickly pull the second app over or near the current one, and to take advantage of this, you first need to activate the panel itself in the settings.
Go to Settings → Additional Features → Sidebar (the path may be different: Settings → Special Features). Turn on the activation switch and select the apps that will appear in the Quick Access List. After setting up, from any application, swipe from the edge of the screen, click on the icon of the desired program and hold your finger for a couple of seconds until the Start Mode Selection menu appears.
In the menu that appears, select the option Split screen. The app will automatically move, making room for the second window. This method is especially convenient when you need to quickly respond to a message without closing the current task, or open a calculator on top of the document. The sidebar supports drag and drop, which makes window management even more flexible.
There's also a hidden quick-switch feature available on some models, where if you swipe from the bottom corner of the screen up and hold it, you can call the recent app menu right over the open window, which is a combination of gestures that requires training, but speeds up the work significantly.
Sidebar secrets
Setting the proportions and controlling the windows
Once the screen is split in two, the user can fine-tune the space that is displayed, and there's a dividing bar between the two active windows, and by pressing it and pulling it up or down, you can change the proportions, make one window bigger and the other smaller, which is useful when, for example, you need to focus on reading an article, leaving the video player minimal.
Some firmware versions have a feature to close one of the windows without leaving mode, which requires dragging the dividing strip completely towards one of the applications, and the ability to roll one of the windows into floating mode, tap the dividing strip or use a special menu (often called by a long tap on the divider) to turn the bottom window into a getting stuck one.
| Action. | The result | Where applicable |
|---|---|---|
| Dragging the separator | Changing the size of the windows 50/50 to 70/30 | Any separation regime |
| Swipe the divider to the edge | Closing of one of the annexes | Completion of work |
| Long tap on the divider | Call the menu (curl, close, change places) | Window management |
| Turning the device | Change of orientation (horizon/vertical) | Media viewing |
When you turn the device horizontally, the windows can be rebuilt, instead of vertically splitting, they will stand next to each other, ideal for tablets in the Xiaomi Pad series or smartphones with large screens, such as the Mi Max or modern flagships, and it is more convenient to work with documents and spreadsheets in horizontal mode.
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If you accidentally close one of the windows, use the “Recent” feature to quickly return it to split screen mode – the system often remembers the last configuration of a pair of applications.
Why does not split the screen on Xiaomi
Despite the widespread use of the feature, users may find themselves in a situation where split screens are not possible, most often the problem lies in the limitations of the applications themselves, software developers can block work in the background or in a smaller window for the sake of security (banks) or interface features (games).
Another reason could be the power savings included: In austerity mode, the system limits the background activity of applications, which can lead to the second window not working correctly or closing it automatically, and it is also worth checking whether Do Not Disturb mode or other profiles that limit the functionality of the interface are turned on.
⚠️ Note: On some global firmware versions, the split screen function may be hidden or unstable compared to the Chinese versions. MIUI. In such cases, it helps to update the system to the latest available version.
If you are sure that the app supports multitasking, but the split button does not appear, try updating the app itself via Google Play or GetApps. Older versions of the programs may not have the necessary permissions or optimizations to modern Android standards.
- 🚫 The app is not optimized to work in multiple windows.
- 🔋 Power savings mode activated.
- 📉 Lack of RAM (RAM) to run a second heavy application.
- 🛑 Errors in the operation of the system launcher.
Solving typical problems and hang-ups
Sometimes the split-screen process can cause the interface to freeze or a black screen in one of the windows, which happens when one of the applications stops responding to the system's requests to redraw the interface, so you don't have to panic and restart the device right away.
First, try closing the problem app through the recent task menu. If the interface doesn't respond to touch, press the power button (and volume button, depending on the model) to call the reboot menu. In most cases, Xiaomi offers the "Reboot" option without completely turning off, which saves data.
If the problem repeats with a particular application, clear its cache. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps, find the problem program, select Memory and click Clear Cache. Don't confuse it with Clear All, otherwise you'll lose your login and settings data.
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Systematic split-screen freezes often indicate a lack of free RAM. Close background applications before launching heavy tasks.
In rare cases, you may need to reset your interface settings, which will not delete your personal photos or contacts, but will return the location of icons and widgets on the desktop to factory condition, a measure that helps if the launcher of the system is not working properly.